Manager R&D Mechanical Engineer Jobs in Boston, MA

Job Description:

This role focuses on developing high-quality 3D and 2D mechanical designs and related analyses for flight-critical avionics systems and robotics-related packaging solutions. The Mechanical Engineer II combines strong technical and analytical capabilities with the ability to deliver accurate work quickly and effectively, supporting both prototype and production-level designs. The position offers the opportunity to contribute to an industry-leading robotics team while ensuring that mechanical assemblies and packaging designs meet performance, reliability, and compliance requirements.

Responsibilities:

• Develop detailed 3D and 2D mechanical designs for flight-critical avionics systems, ensuring robust, reliable, and manufacturable solutions.
• Create mechanical assemblies for electronic systems, including structural components, mounting solutions, and enclosures that support both prototype and production builds.
• Perform mechanical design analyses such as mechanical stack-up evaluation and structural load considerations to verify design integrity and performance.
• Support rapid prototype tooling activities by translating design concepts into prototype-ready models and drawings for quick iteration and testing.
• Develop and refine production tooling designs that support efficient, repeatable manufacturing of mechanical and packaging components.
• Draft and maintain technical documentation, including drawings, specifications, and design reports, to support engineering, manufacturing, and quality teams.
• Use mechanical CAD software to model parts and assemblies, create 2D drawings, and ensure alignment with engineering standards and best practices.
• Design and refine packaging solutions that protect products during handling, transportation, and storage, ensuring compliance with relevant test protocols and standards.
• Review, write, and implement packaging standard operating procedures (SOPs) and work instructions (WIs) to ensure consistent execution and quality.
• Apply knowledge of packaging base materials and systems to optimize designs for performance, cost, sustainability, and manufacturability.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to meet new product introduction (NPI) program milestones and schedules, ensuring timely delivery of design outputs.
• Contribute to project management activities, including planning, tracking, and reporting on design tasks and deliverables.
• Communicate design intent, trade-offs, and risks clearly to stakeholders through written documentation and presentations.
• Support testing and validation activities, including compliance with industry test standards such as ISTA and ASTM, and incorporate test results into design improvements.
• Use key performance indicators such as completed packaging data sheets, completed co-designs, and adherence to NPI schedules to guide and improve performance.
• Demonstrate a bias for action by proactively addressing design issues and driving tasks to completion.
• Consistently deliver results by meeting quality, schedule, and performance expectations for mechanical and packaging designs.

Skills:

• BSc or MSc in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, Robotics, Packaging Engineering, or an equivalent engineering discipline.
• 3–5+ years of relevant work experience in mechanical design, packaging engineering, or a closely related field.
• Experience designing mechanical assemblies for electronics, including enclosures, mounts, and structural components.
• Experience with rapid prototype tooling to support early-stage design validation and iteration.
• Experience with production tooling and design for manufacturability in a production environment.
• Familiarity with packaging base materials and systems and their application in protective packaging solutions.
• Ability to review, write, and implement packaging standard operating procedures (SOPs) and work instructions (WIs).
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills applied to mechanical and packaging design challenges.
• Experience in project management, including planning and tracking engineering tasks and deliverables.
• Strong communication and technical writing skills for clear documentation and collaboration.
• Familiarity with industry test standards such as ISTA and ASTM and their application in design and validation.
• Commitment to leadership principles centered on bias for action and delivering results.

Additional Skills & Qualifications:

• Experience with Dassault 3DExperience Enovia for product lifecycle management (PLM).
• Experience with Dassault 3DExperience Catia for 3D modeling and 2D drafting of complex mechanical assemblies.
• Experience performing thermal simulation analysis using tools such as ANSYS IcePak and/or Siemens Star CCM.
• Experience conducting mechanical stack-up analysis to ensure proper fit, function, and tolerance management.
• Experience with structural load analysis to verify the mechanical robustness of designs.
• Experience using engineering project management software such as JIRA, Confluence, or other Agile tools.
• Familiarity with transportation and logistics principles, including palletizing and trailer loading concepts.
• Working knowledge of palletizing and trailer loading software suites such as TOPS, CAPE, and EasyCargo.
• Familiarity with life cycle analysis (LCA) calculation methods and sustainability considerations in packaging and mechanical design.
• Working knowledge of sustainability impact software such as Compass (Trayak) for evaluating environmental impacts.
• Interest in or experience with robotics and automation, particularly within an industry-leading robotics environment.
• Education from accredited engineering programs is valued; candidates from a broad range of universities are encouraged to apply.

Work Environment:

The role operates in a professional engineering environment focused on mechanical design, packaging engineering, and robotics. Work is typically performed on a Monday through Friday, first-shift schedule, providing a stable and predictable workweek. The position involves regular use of mechanical CAD tools such as SolidWorks, AutoCAD, and potentially Dassault 3DExperience Catia, as well as PLM and project management software like Enovia, JIRA, and Confluence. Collaboration with cross-functional teams is central to the work, particularly in support of an industry-leading robotics team and new product introduction programs. The environment emphasizes analytical rigor, adherence to engineering standards, and alignment with leadership principles that value bias for action and delivering results. Testing and validation activities may involve interaction with lab environments and test equipment aligned with ISTA and ASTM standards, while design activities are primarily computer-based in an office or engineering lab setting.

This is a Contract position based out of Westborough, MA.

The pay range for this position is $35.00 - $45.00/hr.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: • Medical, dental & vision • Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital • 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available • Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) • Short and long-term disability • Health Spending Account (HSA) • Transportation benefits • Employee Assistance Program • Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

This is a fully onsite position in Westborough,MA.

This position is anticipated to close on Aug 7, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.com for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.